An investigation has been launched following reports of an attempted abduction of a teenage girl in Cleethorpes.

The 16-year-old girl had been standing at a bus stop on North Sea Lane at around 9am this morning when a man on crutches is alleged to have approached her and attempted to push her into a nearby white van.

Escaping unharmed, the girl was able to return home and report the incident to the police just before 11.30am.

The incident triggered a response from schools with parents being sent messages warning them about the report and to be 'extra vigilant'.

The man has been described as being in his 50s, thin and around 5ft 9ins tall.

He was wearing a black beanie hat, a black zip-up fleece and black tracksuit bottoms with white stripes on the legs.

The incident comes as police have been searching for a man in connection with a spate of sexual assaults on teenage girls in the area, including one similar incident in Westward Ho. However, it is not known whether the latest incident is connected.

Read More

Grimsby Institute was among a number of schools and colleges to make parents and students aware of the latest incident.

A Humberside Police spokesperson said: "We’re looking into a report made earlier today that an attempt was made to abduct a 16 year old girl in the North Sea Lane area of Cleethorpes.

"The incident is said to have happened as the girl stood at a bus stop this morning around 9am and was approached by a man on crutches who attempted to push her towards a nearby white van. The girl was able to get away and return home safely. She was not harmed in the incident.

"The incident was reported to police just before 11:30am today and enquiries are well underway."

Read More

Police issued a description of the man and appealed for information from the public.

The spokesperson said: "The man was described as being of thin build, around 5ft 9ins and aged in his 50s. He was said to be wearing a black beanie hat, a black zip up fleece and black tracksuit bottoms with white stripes on the legs.

"We are aware that reports of this nature can cause real concern in the local community and we would like to reassure residents that we are working hard to establish the details of this incident, undertaking local enquiries and speaking to the victim.

"We urge anyone with information to call us on 101 quoting log number 187 of March, 21, 2018."